Albert Pujols Drops ‘Serious’ Truth Bomb on His Desire to Make 700-HR History

When Albert Pujols rejoined the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022, his goal of reaching 700 home runs was at the forefront of his mind. Needing 21 to reach the milestone, which he hadn’t achieved since 2019, he surpassed expectations by hitting 24, finishing with 703. As one of only four players in history to hit 700 homers, Pujols is firmly cemented in the record books. Yet, he’s aiming for more, revealing to Bob Nightengale that he now hopes to become an MLB manager.

“I’ve always taken everything seriously in this game,” Pujols said. “Now, I’m serious about managing. This game has given me so much, and now I want to give back. I’m ready.”

Since retiring, Pujols has remained involved in baseball, serving as a television analyst and working with the Commissioner’s office. However, it was his stint managing a Dominican Winter League team to a championship in 2024 that sparked his passion for coaching. While Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, and Babe Ruth all reached 700 homers, none of them ever managed a major league team.

Some legendary players have moved into managerial roles, such as Walter Johnson, Ted Williams, and Pete Rose. But none of them had the impressive power numbers Pujols boasts. Currently, Frank Robinson holds the record for the most home runs by any manager in MLB history with 586, but Pujols could set a new record with 703.

Albert Pujols Could Take Over Either of His Former Teams

As the 2025 season approaches, both of Pujols’ previous teams find themselves in a rebuilding phase. The St. Louis Cardinals have missed the playoffs for two consecutive years and are undergoing a rebuild. With the exception of a failed trade attempt for Nolan Arenado, their roster is poised to be young and hungry. Meanwhile, the Angels are still trying to figure out how to build around Mike Trout without Shohei Ohtani.

Pujols isn’t quite ready to take on a managerial role, and both teams currently have their coaching staff in place. However, with expectations low for the season, both could soon be looking for a new manager. This situation could shine a spotlight on Pujols, who might be called upon to lead the team and re-engage fans during a rebuild.

Although Pujols played a brief stint with the Dodgers late in his career, their manager is firmly entrenched. With Dave Roberts leading a growing dynasty, Pujols’ return to L.A. seems unlikely.

However, Pujols doesn’t need to return to a former team to make his managerial debut. Still, it’s fun to imagine him donning the Cardinals’ red again as their next bench boss.